Twitter has field day with messy NFL pre-season game in Winnipeg
The pun in the headline was fully intended, and if you don’t understand it yet, just wait.
Leading up to the start of the Week 3 pre-season game between the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders in Winnipeg, an issue arose as there was a massive hole on the gridiron at IG Field.
NFL, #Packers and game officials check out the “hole” in the end zone before #Raiders game. pic.twitter.com/N8JBhBAYx2
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 22, 2019
They sold tickets to this game for more than the regular season GB/OAK game and even more than the CFL Grey Cup.
Now the field conditions are unsafe & require multi-hour meetings?
Ridiculous https://t.co/lhuHBG7Wq7 pic.twitter.com/sDvdhKqqE7— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 22, 2019
So before this game could even get off the ground (another pun), there were concerns. It was apparently too late to change the poor playing surface, so the NFL decided to completely change the rules of football instead.
Teams: This field isn't safe. We know Canadians paid a lot to watch this game, but we can't risk it.
NFL: Scrap the rules, sit your starters, take their money. https://t.co/w63ikBHdyM— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 23, 2019
The #Raiders and #Packers played their preseason game on an 80-yard field at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Canada, due to turf issues. https://t.co/0z5N0iNk9K
Note the end zone pylons in the pic below: pic.twitter.com/Fw7FNSUHG3— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) August 23, 2019
Yeah, the game was played on an 80-yard field and kickoffs were barred as both teams started their drives on their own 25-yard line instead. With ticket prices before the game reportedly starting at $127 on Ticketmaster, I’m sure people were happy about that.
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Week 3 of the pre-season is widely considered the ‘tune-up’ game for starters, but with the field in such rough shape, the Packers decided to pull back on playing their top players, while the Raiders reportedly were going to sit their’s all along.
That meant no Aaron Rodgers in ‘The Peg.’
33 #Packers will not be suiting up for tonight's game.#GBvsOAK https://t.co/GuggFKeS3p
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 22, 2019
Naturally, with the situation being such a mess, Twitter made the most of it.
Go home preseason you're drunk. https://t.co/ustwrGz5gd
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 22, 2019
"This field sucks and can cause serious injury. Hey you backups go play on the field."
— Dave (@eaglesdiehard) August 22, 2019
— 𝔍𝔞𝔠𝔬𝔟 ℜ𝔬𝔡𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔲𝔢𝔷 🔥🎷 (@pyrosaxplayer) August 22, 2019
No one can drive the length of an 80-yard field for the win quite like Nathan Peterman.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) August 23, 2019
Oakland ended up defeating Green Bay 22-21, but I think it’s safe to say nobody involved in the NFL’s trip to Winnipeg felt like a winner.
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